On Back to School...

"Cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey." - Jack Layton

So its back to school for my boys. They are at a new school this year, and they are both "official". Kindergarten and Second grade to be exact. How this happened so quickly, gets my brain
frazzled all the time! Each year, it gets a little easier I suppose, but with new changes come new concerns. Will they like their new school? New teachers? Will they make new friends yet shine
being themselves? Will they behave or will we get calls for disciplinary reinforcement? So many questions...

My husband and I have tried to maintain a household filled with love, gentle yet appropriate discipline, and a God-centered view to life. Because our children are still young, sometimes its hard
to accurately access how well we are meeting our goals. But we sent them out into the world (school is their world right now lol) hoping that what we have instilled at home "sticks" while they
are away.

More than anything, as this school year begins, I am grateful. I will miss having them at home during the day, but I am looking forward to a more structured schedule. Homework, extracurricular
activities and all the other details of life are back into full swing and the truck will definitely get a few more miles on it. I feel those miles on my heart...each year older, they are growing
more and more independent. I listen to their conversation and ask myself, "Where have my babies gone?" As if that moment of nostalgia wasn't enough on the ride home after dropping them
off (and to add insult to injury lol), I heard a song that brought hot, stinging tears to my eyes. It described my feelings perfectly and the stage of life we are in. Grab the kleenex....

I can hear the collective sighs, trust me. It took me a minute to gather myself as I tried to clear my view of the road through the tears. I love them, with a fierce, dragon-slaying, warrior
princess kind of love - the kind that bears the scars from bringing them into the world as badges of honor. Yet, this love also means being willing to loosen the reins from time to time, no
matter how painful. They happily go to school every morning, and bubble over with enthusiasm and joy when I pick them up every afternoon. They are happy and filled. Guess that's all we need to
concern ourselves with for now.